NFL Quick Shots: Texans still first despite losing stars to injury

Matt Trowbridge

Monday

Nov 28, 2011 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2011 at 7:38 AM

No one should ever use injuries as an excuse after the Packers put 15 players, including nine starters, on injured reserve last year yet still reached the Super Bowl, and then won it despite losing Charles Woodson, Sam Shields and Donald Driver during the game.

No one should ever use injuries as an excuse after the Packers put 15 players, including nine starters, on injured reserve last year yet still reached the Super Bowl, and then won it despite losing Charles Woodson, Sam Shields and Donald Driver during the game.

The Texans may be just as indefatigable. The Texans have never made the playoffs, but are tied for the best record in the AFC despite losing Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub, Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams and backup quarterback Matt Leinart for the year and All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson for six weeks.

Running without impact

The Bears ran for 172 yards and averaged 6.4 per carry in a 25-21 loss to Oakland. That’s exactly what Chicago needed with Caleb Hanie making his first start. Except those numbers are very misleading. The Bears broke three runs of more than 20 yards but had zero touchdown runs and only two third-down conversions on the ground, both by Hanie.

The reason to run is to control the ball. With Matt Forte getting off to a slow start, four of the Bears first five drives lasted only three plays. That’s no way to help a young QB.

Bears stack up well

Even though the Bears lost, they solidified my belief that with Jay Cutler healthy they are as good as any conventional team in football. They’d beat the 49ers and Jets and have 50-50 shots against the Steelers and Ravens. Teams that like to run don’t gain the important yards against Chicago, which held the Raiders to six field goals. The pass-happy Patriots, Saints and undefeated Packers are the only teams the Bears don’t match up well against. Part of that is because supposedly pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz has found better ways to run; I loved the fake-pass, draw play that Matt Forte gained 33 yards on.

Costas is correct in asking coaches to bench players who draw penalties for “buffoonery” Intentional stupidity should always be discouraged. But the biggest problem is the rule, not the rule breaker. We all survived the Mark Gastineau sack dance that Costas so laments. Costas says “we live in a culture that in many ways grows more stupid and graceless by the moment.” I say penalizing end zone celebrations as severely as horse collar tackles and helmet-to-helmet hits is more stupid and graceless than any dance.

Angelo average in draft

The Bears’ last 10 draft classes rated a B- and was ranked 13th by coldhardfootballfacts.com. That surprisingly put GM Jerry Angelo only two spots behind Green Bay as measured by number of Pro Bowlers, draft picks still active and their career value. The Packers, though, will zoom upward; most of their best picks are still young, while Chicago’s best picks (Lance Briggs, Devin Hester, Charles Tillman) are in the second half of their careers. The big surprise was the team Angelo left; Tampa Bay ranked 31st out of 32 teams, behind even the Lions.

Matt Trowbridge’s NFL Quick Shots appear Tuesdays. He can be reached at 815-987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.